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Today we’d like to share one of our family’s favorite ways to save money on a Disney vacation – by renting DVC points! The thing is, we aren’t DVC (Disney Vacation Club) members. But we love renting points from members in order to book our stay at a far cheaper rate than what we’d get through Disney. A safe and easy way to do this is by using David’s Vacation Club Rentals.
Our first time using David’s Vacation Club Rentals was back in January 2017 for a stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. And we have stayed at multiple other Disney resorts since then, from Bay Lake Tower to Boardwalk and more.
The process of booking your stay is a little bit different than how you’d do it through Disney’s website. But once it’s completed, you’ll get a confirmation number you can use to link your reservation to your My Disney Experience account. And then the reservation will be just like you had booked it the traditional way. You can enjoy any resort perks included in the hotel stay (such as Early Entry into the theme parks at Walt Disney World, if you’re staying in Orlando).
So how exactly does that process work? Basically, you figure out what you want. Then you fill out a reservation form with the dates/resort(s) you’re requesting. And when you submit your form, you also make a partial payment of $105. If there’s availability, that deposit will be applied to the total cost of your stay. And if there’s not availability, you’ll get the money back.
But that’s just an overview. As for the details, we’ve broken it all down into a step-by-step guide on how to book a Disney hotel stay with DVC points if you’re not a DVC member. And don’t worry – it’s not hard at all. In fact, once you’ve decided where you want to stay and have opened up the reservation form, it’s rather straightforward. But if you’re like me and sometimes like a little extra guidance, then feel free to follow along until the end!
How to Book with DVC Points as a Non-Member
Step 1: Decide on Your Dates & Top Choices for Resorts
First things first – you’ll need to decide when and where you want to stay!
You can pick from the following Disney hotels:
- Orlando, Florida
- Animal Kingdom Villas at Jambo House
- Animal Kingdom Villas at Kidani Village
- Bay Lake Tower
- Beach Club Villas
- Boardwalk Villas
- Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian
- Old Key West Resort
- Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Island Tower at Polynesian
- Riviera Resort
- Saratoga Springs Resort
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge
- Cabins at Fort Wilderness
- Anaheim, California
- Villas at Grand Californian Hotel
- Villas at Disneyland Hotel
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Hilton Head Island Resort
- O’ahu, Hawaii
- Aulani
To find out how much this will cost, you can use the cost calculator on the David’s Vacation Club Rentals website. Just choose “DVC Guests” from the menu at the top, and then choose the top option, “Cost Calculator,” as you can see in this screenshot:
Once you’re there, click on your start and end date in the calculator. You might need to use the arrows to get to your preferred month.
Then, scroll down to see the total price (in US dollars) of your stay for the different hotels. This includes the cost for the room type, which (depending on the hotel) may include a combination of the following:
- Value
- Tower Studio
- Duo Studio
- Hotel Room
- Deluxe Studio
- One Bedroom
- Two Bedroom
- Two Bedroom Penthouse
- Grand Villa
- Treehouse
- Resort View
- Standard View
- Preferred View
- Premium View
- Theme Park View
- Savanna View
- Garden View
- Island Garden View
- Poolside Garden View
- Ocean View
Three things to keep in mind:
#1 – For two hotels, you’ll also need to pay a transient tax. Those hotels are:
- Disneyland Hotel
- Aulani
#2 – The cost calculator will show you how much something will cost, but it won’t show you availability.
#3 – Whatever dates/resorts you choose, it will need to be worth a minimum of 44 points. You can find out how many points a stay is by switching from Display Cost to Display Points.
Step 2: Fill out the Reservation Form
Once you know when and where you want to stay, you can start filling out the reservation form. Just choose the big yellow button at the righthand top of the site that says “Reserve Now.”
A) Choose Dates & Resort
Use the arrows to move to the correct month, and then click on the start and end dates of your trip.
Once your dates are highlighted, click on where it says NEXT STEP.
Find your top choice for where you want to stay and click on it to highlight it.
And then click on NEXT STEP.
Now, you’ll choose your room type. You’ll select your choice, select NEXT STEP, and then you may be asked if the room requires Wheelchair Accessibility. Select Yes or No and then select NEXT STEP.
At this point, you’ll be asked if you want to add an alternate resort choice. It is completely up to you! If you only want to stay at your first choice, then choose No. But if you would also be interested in staying at another resort, select Yes. This will increase the chances that you will get a resort booked for your dates.
You can choose a second resort – and third resort, if you’d like – the same way you chose your first one.
B) Personal Information
Here’s where you put in your personal information. You’ll fill in the blanks and then select NEXT STEP. The information you’ll give is as follows:
- Legal first and last name
- You’ll want to give the same one that is listed on your ID.
- Email address & confirmation of email address
- They request that you not use an AOL, Comcast or Juno email, as those providers have difficulty receiving emails from David’s.
- Phone number & optional second phone number
- Address
You’ll also be asked if you are the lead guest. Unless you have reason not to be, just say Yes to this. The reservation will end up being in your name.
And then you’ll be asked to let them know how you heard about David’s Rentals. (You can choose “Other” and then write “Green Vacation Deals” in the comments!)
As for that comment section, there are three other things you might include there:
- A DVCR Travel Credit
- This would not apply to new customers.
- If you’re traveling with another family and that family submitted their own reservation form, you should put the name of that family.
- If one of your resort choices was Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas and you have a preference on building, you should put either Jambo House or Kidani Village.
- We go over the differences between Jambo House and Kidani Village here.
C) Guest Information
Here’s where you fill in the information about the people who will be staying in the room. You’ll need to say how many adults and how many “Youths” (people age 17 years old or younger) will be in the room.
For the adult guests, you’ll provide the following info:
- Name (first and last)
- Title (Ms., Mr., Miss, Mrs., etc)
- Email address
- Phone number
- Address
For the youth guests, you’ll provide:
- Name (first and last)
- Title
- Age
Please note – once your reservation is complete, you’ll be able to link it to My Disney Experience. And you can match up the guest names with any guests you have in your Friends & Family on your MDE account. This is important because that way, everyone staying with you can enjoy the hotel perks (which might include extra hours at night at the WDW parks or using a MagicBand to open the hotel room).
D) Disclosure Agreement
This is where you’ll see the fine print about your reservation. You’ll definitely want to read that over before you submit your reservation form. Here are some of the highlights – but, again, make sure you read it in full before you submit!
Reservation & Payment Basics
- A $105 deposit is required upfront (Visa, MasterCard, or PayPal).
- If they can’t fulfill your request as submitted, you’ll get that deposit back (usually within 24 hours, excluding weekends/holidays).
- If they do fulfill your request and you don’t pay the balance within 24 hours, the deposit is forfeited.
- Once paid in full, all sales are non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy (via Deferred Dreams Travel Credit)
You’ll get a percentage of your total back (minus the $105 deposit) as a credit—not a cash refund—if you cancel:
- More than 120 days out – 100%
- 120–61 days – 75%
- 60–31 days – 50%
- 30–15 days – 25%
- Less than 15 days – 0% (no credit)
What’s Included (and What’s Not)
- This is for accommodations only—no park tickets, dining plans, transportation, or insurance are included.
- NOTE: We at Green Vacation Deals recommend you check for the best ways to save money on park tickets here.
Taxes & Fees
- Prices include taxes and fees except at Aulani and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, where an additional resort tax is collected at check-in.
For International Travelers
- You’ll need a valid passport to enter the U.S., and it’s your responsibility to make sure all travel documents are in order.
Currency Info
- The company is based in Canada, but all prices are in USD.
- If you’re outside Canada, check with your credit card company about foreign transaction fees.
Travel Insurance
- Travel insurance is not provided by David’s, but they recommend that you consider getting it.
Beneath that information, and with a yellow background, you’ll see information about current closures. This can include things like pool closures, hotel restaurant closures, construction taking place at the resort, etc. Make sure to check and see if the resort or resorts you’ve chosen are listed.
And then, you’re almost done! You’ll just need to agree “Yes” to the terms and conditions and that you’ve been informed regarding travel insurance and refunds. Oh, and you’ll need to check the box that you’re not a robot.
Conclusion
While it might seem like a lot of details, it’s actually a pretty straightforward process – especially once you’ve decided when and where you want to stay. And it’s a valuable way to stay at the top hotels at Disney World, Disneyland and more, all at much less than you’d pay if you booked through the Disney websites!
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Disney Vacation Club?
The Disney Vacation Club is basically a timeshare program that lets you stay at Disney hotels.
Do I have to join the Disney Vacation Club to book with DVC points?
No, you don’t have to join the DVC to book with points if you use a third party service like David’s Vacation Club Rentals. They work with DVC members to make sure the reservation is secured and then transferred over to you and other customers.
Do I have to listen to a timeshare pitch?
No! And no one is going to harass you about it, either. If you want to, you can probably find someone at the hotel who will tell you more about joining the DVC. Similarly, there are often people inside the Disney theme parks to answer questions about the DVC. But you don’t have to talk to them (and they usually won’t say too much to you unless you show an interest).
What if I do want to learn more about the DVC before my trip?
If you’re curious about the Disney Vacation Club, you can get access to special videos by filling out this form on the DVC website.
Do all the villas cost the same?
Great question! No, not all villas cost the same. How much your villa costs depends on how many points it is worth. It also depends on the Price Tier, because David’s charges a different amount per point based on its 3 Price Tiers.
If you use the Cost Calculator on David’s website, all of this will be calculated for you. But if you want more details, here’s a breakdown of the 3 Price Tiers:
- Premium – $25.00 per point
- Secured 7-11 months in advance at these resorts:
- Riviera Resort
- Grand Floridian
- Beach Club
- Polynesian
- Copper Creek
- Boulder Ridge
- Cabins at Fort Wilderness
- Boardwalk
- Disneyland Hotel
- Grand Californian
- Aulani
- Secured 7-11 months in advance at these resorts:
- Regular – $23.00 per point
- Secured at a premium level resort 0-7 months in advance OR
- Secured at any time at these resorts:
- Bay Lake Tower
- Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Villas & Jambo House)
- Advantage – $20.00 per point
- Secured at any time at these resorts:
- Old Key West
- Saratoga Springs
- Vero Beach
- Hilton Head Island
- Secured at any time at these resorts:
When should I book my DVC villa rental?
If you’re interested in booking and aren’t sure if there is still availability, just ask. But David’s does recommend booking at the following times, depending on where you want to stay:
11 Months in Advance
Highly recommended for:
- Animal Kingdom Villas (Concierge Level, Value rooms)
- Bay Lake Tower (Standard View rooms, Theme Park Studio and Theme Park 2 Bedrooms)
- Boardwalk Villas (Standard & Boardwalk View Studios and 1 Bedrooms, and Grand Villas)
- Grand Floridian Villas (Standard View Studios and 1 Bedrooms)
- Riviera Resort (Tower Studios, Standard View Studios and 2 Bedrooms)
- Aulani Villas in Hawaii (Standard View Grand Villa, Standard View Hotel Room)
10 Months in Advance
Recommended for:
- Bay Lake Tower (Theme Park View 1 Bedroom and Grand Villa, and Lake View Studio and 2 Bedroom)
- Beach Club Villas (Studios and 2 Bedrooms)
- Grand Californian Villas (Studios, 1 and 2 Bedrooms)
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins (Studios)
- Riviera Resort (Standard View 1 Bedroom)
- Boulder Ridge Villas (Studios)
- Disneyland Hotel Villas
9 Months in Advance
Recommended for:
- Animal Kingdom Villas (Grand Villa, and Savanna View Studios and 2 Bedrooms)
- Bay Lake Tower (Lake View 1 Bedrooms and Grand Villas)
- Beach Club Villas (1 Bedroom)
- Boardwalk Villas (Pool/Garden View Studios and 2 Bedrooms)
- Old Key West (Grand Villa)
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins (2 Bedrooms)
- Boulder Ridge Villas (2 Bedrooms)
8 Months in Advance
Recommended for:
- Animal Kingdom Villas (Standard View Studios, Savanna View 1 Bedroom, Standard View 2 Bedroom)
- Boardwalk Villas (Pool/Garden View 1 Bedroom)
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins (1 Bedroom)
- Riviera Resort (Preferred View Studios, 1 Bedrooms and 2 Bedrooms)
- Boulder Ridge Villas (1 Bedroom)
- Grand Floridian Villas (Lake View Studio, 1 Bedroom and 2 Bedroom)
- Aulani Villas (Standard View Studio, 1 Bedroom and 2 Bedroom)
7 Months in Advance
Recommended for:
- Animal Kingdom Villas (Standard View 1 Bedroom)
- Old Key West (Studio 2 Bedroom)
- Saratoga Springs (Standard 2 Bedroom, Preferred 2 Bedroom, Treehouse Villa)
- Polynesian Villas & Bungalows (Standard View Studio, Lake View Studio, Lake View 2 Bedroom Bungalow)
- Aulani Villas (Island Gardens View Studio, Poolside Gardens View Studio)
3-6 Months in Advance (or Earlier)
Recommended for:
- Copper Creek (Cabin, Grand Villa)
- Riviera Resort (Preferred View Grand Villa)
- Old Key West (1 Bedroom)
- Saratoga Springs (Standard Studio, Preferred Studio, Preferred 1 Bedroom, Standard Grand Villa, Preferred Grand Villa)
- Grand Floridian Villas (Lake View Grand Villa)
- Aulani Villas (Ocean View Studio, 1 Bedroom, 2 Bedroom & Grand Villa; Island Gardens View 1 & 2 Bedroom, Poolside Gardens View 1 Bedroom & 2 Bedroom)
1-2 Months in Advance (or Earlier)
Recommended for:
- Saratoga Springs (Standard 1 Bedroom)
General Tips
- For peak travel months (June, July, August, December), book at least 8 months in advance.
- Beach resorts (like Hilton Head Island and Vero Beach) should be booked 9 to 11 months ahead for summer and peak seasons.
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